Netherlands v Morocco
Play By Play
For the second time in their history, Morocco overcome a major UEFA power on penalties at the World Cup, by taking down the Netherlands 3-2, following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes, four years on from their improbable victory over Spain in Qatar in similar fashion. The Atlas Lions created the better opportunities in the first half but were unable to beat Verbruggen, who managed to keep the scores level with two fantastic saves in a three-minute span to help weather the early storm. Despite coming out of the interval second-best, the Oranje managed to find the breakthrough courtesy of Gakpo, which looked to be enough to win the tie, if not for Diop’s timely header in the first minute of stoppages. The late strike pushed the game to a cagey and rather uneventful extra-time period, except for Rahmi’s gilt-edged opportunity, which was denied by a quick-thinking Verbruggen at point-blank range. Koopmeiners gave Koeman’s side the perfect start during the spot-kicks, but misses from Kluivert and Timber, as well as Bounou’s save on Summerville - presented Saibari with the opportunity to confirm his side's spot in the next round, which he took with aplomb from 12 yards out to end the game. The win sees Morocco through to a last-16 tie against co-hosts Canada in Houston on July 4, while the Netherlands' quest for a first World Cup win will continue until at least 2030. That concludes our commentary of the 2026 World Cup round-of-32 clash between the Netherlands and Morocco at Estadio Monterrey - we hope you’ve enjoyed it!
FULL-TIME AFTER EXTRA-TIME AND PENALTIES: NETHERLANDS 1-1 MOROCCO (2-3 ON PENALTIES)
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! MOROCCO THROUGH TO THE ROUND OF 16! Verbruggen guesses the wrong way, leaving the entire side of the goal open, and Saibari makes absolutely no mistake, rolling a low penalty - hit more for accuracy than power - into the bottom corner before whipping off his shirt and wheeling away to celebrate with the overjoyed Morocco technical staff and supporters!
THE BIG HAND OF BONOU! Summerville takes a long run up from a central position before throwing his boot at the ball to drive it right of centre, but Bounou doesn’t commit to his dive fully - taking a step in the right direction before throwing out his left glove to punch the winger’s spot-kick away! It somehow remains 2-2! Morocco now have the chance to seal the tie!
OFF THE POST! INCREDIBLE! Looking to give his side a captain’s contribution, Hakimi takes to the spot, but he can’t find the back of the net with his low, right-footed effort that doesn’t give Verbruggen a chance - as it smashes off the base of the woodwork and cannons back out! Still 2-2!
MISSED! Timber sends the goalkeeper the wrong direction by opening up his body to fake one way, before pulling his shot to the other side and missing the net completely! The score stays at 2-2, but it gives Morocco the chance to take the lead!
GOAL! After providing the assist for Diop’s equaliser, Talbi puts Morocco back on level footing with a well-taken penalty; a curling right-footed effort that’s placed absolutely perfectly! 2-2!
GOAL! No stranger to power, Weghorst steps up confidently and sweeps his right foot at the ball, sending his effort high above the outstretched hand of a diving Bounou and in at the top corner! 2-1 Netherlands!
GOAL! A REAL SLICE OF LUCK! Rahimi knows how fortunate he is to see his spot-kick hit the back of the net, after Verbruggen looked to smother the effort sent just to the right of centre. With his body on the ball, it squirms underneath the goalkeeper, off his foot and in to level the scores at 1-1!
MISS! OFF THE POST! Looking to extend the Netherlands’ lead, Kluivert, who was introduced as a substitute in the second period of extra-time, steps towards the spot with a stuttering run up, but sends his low effort off the base of the post and out! Still 1-0 Netherlands!
MISS! OFF THE CROSSBAR! After taking the time to place the ball on the spot meticulously, El Aynaoui, who played the entire game, steps up and sends his right-footed effort off the crossbar and out, despite sending Verbruggen the wrong way! It stays 1-0!
GOAL! Koopmeiners steps up as the first penalty taker and gets the Netherlands off to the perfect start with a low strike sent underneath the hands of Bounou - who guessed correctly! 1-0!
FULL-TIME IN EXTRA-TIME: NETHERLANDS 1-1 MOROCCO
Ahead of a Netherlands throw-in deep in their own half, Saibari is being instructed to change his shirt, with the striker bleeding from a wound in his eye. The required medical attention will leave Morocco at a man disadvantage temporarily, which may prompt the Netherlands to throw everything forward ahead of full-time.
The fourth official indicates one minute will be added on to the final extra-time period.
Neither team have registered a shot in the 10 minutes since the extra-time period resumed, with the majority of the play coming in central midfield. A number of niggly fouls and changes have also served to break up the game, preventing either side from finding rhythm, which seems to leave spot-kicks as the likeliest outcome to decide a winner.
Talbi whips his right-footed cross to a similar area that saw Diop equalise, but this time Koopmeiners takes charge and gets to the ball ahead of the lurking Rahimi.
Gakpo feels something in his leg during his attempt to keep the ball in play, with the striker rolling back onto the pitch to halt the restart before signalling for a substitution. The injury forces the Netherlands into their final change, which sees Kluivert sent on in relief.
A foul on Gakpo gives the Netherlands a free-kick inside the centre-circle, which Koopmeiners floats forward to Weghorst, but Gakpo isn’t able to keep the ensuing header in play ahead of the byline with Salah-Eddine shielding it.
Talbi’s cross from the left flies over the head of Rahimi but looks to drop to Hakimi in between the six-yard box and the penalty spot, but Koopmeiners throws himself at the ball stretches to put in a volleyed clearance.
An experienced operator in central midfield, the Netherlands send Atalanta’s De Roon onto the pitch, recalling De Jong to the bench at the same time.
Just over 10 minutes separate the two sides from the pressure of spot-kicks; a prospect which will now be firmly in the minds of both Koeman and Ouahbi. Having used four of their changes during regulation, Morocco will be allowed to make one final substitution before penalties, while the Netherlands still have two alterations in reserve.
Morocco get the match restarted from the kick-off, for the final time tonight!
After 120 minutes of football at Estadio Monterrey produced two goals split evenly at one apiece, we’re headed to spot-kicks to decide a winner between the Netherlands and Morocco, with a place in the round of 16 against Canada on the line. Koeman’s side opened the scoring with a dozen minutes to go through Gakpo’s well-taken finish under the body of a diving Bounou, but Diop’s late equaliser pushed the match to extra-time, where the two sides combined for just a single shot. That effort could - and really should - have been the winner, but Verbruggen sprang into life and made himself big to deny Rahimi, and keep the scores level in the first period of additional time. Morocco outproduced their opponents on xG, 1.40 to 0.23, but with the match tied at 1-1, it all comes down to penalties.
HALF-TIME IN EXTRA-TIME: NETHERLANDS 1-1 MOROCCO
